Composer: Felix Mendelssohn, Hélène de Montgeroult, Giovanni Battista Viotti, Carl Maria von Weber
Performer: Sophie Rosa, Ian Buckle
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Rubicon
Catalogue: RCD1056
Release: 2021
Size: 1.07 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Viotti: Violin Sonata No. 10 in E major, G. 38
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Adagio non troppo
03. III. Andantino con variazioni
Montgeroult: Sonata in A minor, Op. 2 No. 3
04. I. Agitato
05. II. Adagio
06. III. Vivace con espressione
Mendelssohn: Violin Sonata in F minor, Op. 4
07. I. Adagio – Allegro moderato
08. II. Poco adagio
09. III. Allegro agitato
Weber: Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major, Op. 10b
10. I. Carattere Espagnuolo. Moderato
11. II. Adagio
12. III. Air Polonaise. Rondo Allegro
Hélène de Montgeroult (1764-1836) was one of the most influential pianist composers of the early 19th Century – no mean feat at a time when figures such as Dussek (her teacher), Hummel, Field, Kalkbrenner, Cramer, Moscheles and last but not least Beethoven dominated the field. A field also dominated by men.
Her 114 Études de difficultés progressives of 1816 exerted a considerable influence over composers such as Chopin, Mendelssohn (brother and sister) and the Schumanns – Robert and Clara. Montgeroult was also a regular duo partner with Viotti, the foremost violinist-composer of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They toured far and wide over Europe. She also partnered with Kreutzer and Baillot.
Of her nine Piano Sonatas, the 6th from 1800 features a violin accompaniment in the same way as Dussek’s Sonatas for keyboard with violin. This is a work of restless energy and daring harmonies. Montgeroult had a narrow escape from the guillotine in Paris as she was married to an imprisoned Austrian nobleman. Her skill at improvising on a revolutionary song won her freedom.
Sophie Rosa and Ian Buckle have curated a fascinating recital that partners Montgeroult’s Sonata (receiving its world premiere recording) with her duo partner Viotti’s 10th Sonata, and the precocious F minor Sonata by the 14 year old Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. Their recital concludes with Weber’s short and sparkling 2nd Sonata written with gifted amateur musicians in mind.